Two rival countries in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan and Armenia, have welcomed the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said on January 18 that the implementation of Iran's nuclear deal with six world powers "will give an additional impetus to further develop a mutually beneficial partnership" between Baku and "the friendly and neighborly people of Iran."

Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian also greeted the lifting of the sanctions, saying that "Armenia is keen to deepen its mutually beneficial cooperation with friendly ‪Iran."

On January 16, the UN nuclear watchdog announced that Iran has met its nuclear promises under the July nuclear deal, triggering the end of nuclear-related sanctions that had been imposed by the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union.